# What has become of SDMB, especially GD’s? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 19, 2005, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-become-of-sdmb-especially-gd-s/336304 "2005-12-19T16:04:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-become-of-sdmb-especially-gd-s/336304/141 "2005-12-22T01:20:36Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > If my count is correct, three mods have posted in this thread. An unknown number of other mods have read it. Please point me to the post where any of us have said what you claim we will say. As **drmark2000** pointed out, anticipating the reaction has probably prevented it. Also, the mods these days are too busy closing threads for no reason at all to bother with closing down this one for the typical political reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-become-of-sdmb-especially-gd-s/336304/142 "2005-12-22T01:37:36Z")
> [@drmark2000](#): > > I’d like some urls for these sites. I’d like to toss some of my own work into the mix to see how people react. We poets are a rotten lot, especially at this point in history. If SDMB is “Validation Central” compared to poetry sites, I definitely want to give them a shot. I’d be happy to help you find that hell. And to read your work. Do you do anything in rhyme and meter? > [@](#): > > “The shit that purifies.” I love that. And indeed it does purify, if by nothing else than ridding one’s responses of (some of) the unsubtle. Right. The “too cool for school attitude,” the ironic pose, is what kills both poetry and debate these days. Oh, and screeching. > [@](#): > > Oh, man, have I ever seen it. Not in this thread, yet, but that is only because we have anticipated it and thus thwarted it. They don’t want to do what we’ve already told them they’re going to do. It’s good to corner them, force them to contrive some other way to achieve their ends, and then expose _that_ for what it is. Really gets them furious. So often the mods are like those fascist ladies who wanted the lunchroom quiet when I was in grade school. Kids being loud just isn’t right… somehow. Right?! If for no other reason than, at that point, the lunch ladies aren’t in control. > [@](#): > > As the saying goes, turnabout is fair play. Some have been banned for it. Such as the Reverend Whathisname. If you piss people off by failing to submit, then you’re a “troll.” And “trolls,” of course, are bannable. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-become-of-sdmb-especially-gd-s/336304/143 "2005-12-22T02:06:50Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > As **drmark2000** pointed out, anticipating the reaction has probably prevented it. So, that is what we would have said had you not broadcast our intentions to the Teeming Millions. Our nefarious plan has been defeated. Curses, foiled again! Perhaps you should consider seeing **drmark2000** in his professional capacity. ---
**Author:** ![Brainiac4](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brainiac4/32/3534_2.png) [@Brainiac4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brainiac4)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-become-of-sdmb-especially-gd-s/336304/144 "2005-12-22T02:23:47Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Perhaps you should consider seeing **drmark2000** in his professional capacity. This is a excellent idea. Many people find the season stressful, and spending some time at the circus may help. Especially if he’s good with balloon animals. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-become-of-sdmb-especially-gd-s/336304/145 "2005-12-22T02:51:03Z")
> [@drmark2000](#): > > What is it, exactly, that you fear, **Lutey**? Why would I enjoy what you, yourself, fear? Why would anyone? What does that say about me? Nothing! What is fear? Science tells us that fear is a chain reaction in the brain. Buddha identified fear as delusions–distorted ways of looking at ourselves and the world around us. You, sir, indeed have a distorted way of looking at yourself and, at the very least, this little part of the world around you. What do _you_ fear, Doc? ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-become-of-sdmb-especially-gd-s/336304/146 "2005-12-22T02:56:50Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Our nefarious plan has been defeated. Curses, foiled again! You are not going to last as a mod, and you know it. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-become-of-sdmb-especially-gd-s/336304/147 "2005-12-22T03:20:11Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > You are not going to last as a mod, and you know it. You may have been joking, I am not sure. I haven’t been here very long and I was wondering of your statement was based on a longer turn observation of Mods and some specific things **Frank** has done. From my observations Frank is a nice guy and has been doing a good job Modding. Jim ---
**Author:** ![drmark2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@drmark2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drmark2000)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-become-of-sdmb-especially-gd-s/336304/148 "2005-12-22T03:31:05Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > I’d be happy to help you find that hell. And to read your work. Do you do anything in rhyme and meter? Anything in rhyme and meter? I wrote a ton of stuff in my early 20’s, some of it in rhyme and meter, more or less, most not. It’s crapola, most of it, but I like it. I‘d say that I had about a dozen really fine moments writing poetry, and I’d just like to see how it might hold up in the big world of the internet. You wanna see the stuff? I’ll oblige. > [@Aeschines](#): > > So often the mods are like those fascist ladies who wanted the lunchroom quiet when I was in grade school. Kids being loud just isn’t right… somehow. Right?! If for no other reason than, at that point, the lunch ladies aren’t in control. Remember, the lunch ladies are employees. They’re going to behave like employees. They have no choice. > [@Aeschines](#): > > Some have been banned for it. Such as the Reverend Whathisname. If you piss people off by failing to submit, then you’re a “troll.” And “trolls,” of course, are bannable. I never knew the Reverend. I was banned once, for just 24 hours, by **tomndeb** , who you respect. Hasn’t happened since. I can’t really see anything in this thread that would warrant a banning, for either of us. We aren‘t trolls; we’re gadflies, and good ones. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-become-of-sdmb-especially-gd-s/336304/149 "2005-12-22T03:33:08Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > You are not going to last as a mod, and you know it. There are thousands of Dopers that if any one of them said such a thing, I would be concerned. You are not one of them. ---
**Author:** ![drmark2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@drmark2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drmark2000)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-become-of-sdmb-especially-gd-s/336304/150 "2005-12-22T03:39:07Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > So, that is what we would have said had you not broadcast our intentions to the Teeming Millions. Our nefarious plan has been defeated. Curses, foiled again! > > Perhaps you should consider seeing **drmark2000** in his professional capacity. If you’re going to be a dipshit, **Frank** , don’t be such an obvious dipshit. You and yours night well have closed this thread if your motivations for doing so had not already been anticipated and mentioned, in the thread. Being gutless, you took the gutless way out. Of course, closing the thread also would have been gutless. You just can’t win. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-become-of-sdmb-especially-gd-s/336304/151 "2005-12-22T03:59:14Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > There are thousands of Dopers that if any one of them said such a thing, I would be concerned. You are not one of them. And I would be concerned did you think I was one. Did I out-snappy your snappy comeback. Did I, “Frank”? Did I oh did I? Fuckin’ tool. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-become-of-sdmb-especially-gd-s/336304/152 "2005-12-22T04:11:58Z")
> [@drmark2000](#): > > Anything in rhyme and meter? I wrote a ton of stuff in my early 20’s, some of it in rhyme and meter, more or less, most not. It’s crapola, most of it, but I like it. I‘d say that I had about a dozen really fine moments writing poetry, and I’d just like to see how it might hold up in the big world of the internet. You wanna see the stuff? I’ll oblige. Yeah. If your e-mail is active, I’ll message you. Mine is a big State Secret (not really, but…). > [@](#): > > Remember, the lunch ladies are employees. They’re going to behave like employees. They have no choice. I never felt that the lunch ladies had a good theory of “kid noise,” and I also felt that they were fairly autonomous in their desire to control us. Some mods here have a good theory of moddom and “poster noise,” some don’t. And the newbies having been choking on their newfound power. > [@](#): > > I never knew the Reverend. I was banned once, for just 24 hours, by **tomndeb** , who you respect. What the hell happened? I respect **tomdeb** (more as a mod, not so much as a poster), because, as a good mod should, he mostly stays above the fray and doesn’t engage in toolish arguments with the hoi polloi (id est, nonmods). **“Frank”** is a tool because he tries to be clever, as in this thread, putting on the snark but clunking miserably. His excuse may be that he’s posting as a private citizen, but the mods have to be above that shit. Placid. Serene. He and the other newbie are also just plain flailing as mods, anyway. > [@](#): > > Hasn’t happened since. I can’t really see anything in this thread that would warrant a banning, for either of us. Since the suspension policy was introduced, sacrificial bannings have become a rarity. Which change is really giving the kind of numb nuts appearing in this thread a case of blue balls. No autos de fe, no fun no more! > [@](#): > > We aren‘t trolls; we’re gadflies, and good ones. Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-become-of-sdmb-especially-gd-s/336304/153 "2005-12-22T04:13:01Z")
> [@drmark2000](#): > > Being gutless, you took the gutless way out. Of course, closing the thread also would have been gutless. You just can’t win. Boxed up well and sent to the dumpster… ---
**Author:** ![drmark2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@drmark2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drmark2000)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-become-of-sdmb-especially-gd-s/336304/154 "2005-12-22T04:35:46Z")
> [@Brainiac4](#): > > This is a excellent idea. Many people find the season stressful, and spending some time at the circus may help. Especially if he’s good with balloon animals. The irony of this inane statement is that, in fact, I **can** make balloon animals. I taught myself when I was 12, and into “magic.” I remember it well. It was just 5 years after I taught myself how how never to be bored. I did shows, for pay, for some of the neighborhood kids. It’s a wonderful skill to learn, especially as it looks so much more difficult than it actually is. Them long, sculpting balloons won’t pop after even an enormous number of twists! It’s most thrillingly impressive. Cite: _One Balloon Zoo_ by Jimmy Davis, copyright 1966. You can find it, if you try. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-become-of-sdmb-especially-gd-s/336304/155 "2005-12-22T04:41:27Z")
> [@drmark2000](#): > > The irony of this inane statement is that, in fact, I **can** make balloon animals. > > I taught myself when I was 12, and into “magic.” I remember it well. It was just 5 years after I taught myself how how never to be bored. I did shows, for pay, for some of the neighborhood kids. > > It’s a wonderful skill to learn, especially as it looks so much more difficult than it actually is. Them long, sculpting balloons won’t pop after even an enormous number of twists! It’s most thrillingly impressive. > > Cite: _One Balloon Zoo_ by Jimmy Davis, copyright 1966. You can find it, if you try. I love this guy! ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-become-of-sdmb-especially-gd-s/336304/156 "2005-12-22T04:43:02Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > I respect **tomdeb** (more as a mod, not so much as a poster),… Anyone who does not respect **tomndebb** as a poster is simply not paying attention. > [@](#): > > … because, as a good mod should, he mostly stays above the fray and doesn’t engage in toolish arguments with the hoi polloi (id est, nonmods). **“Frank”** is a tool because he tries to be clever, as in this thread, putting on the snark but clunking miserably. His excuse may be that he’s posting as a private citizen, but the mods have to be above that shit. Placid. Serene. He and the other newbie are also just plain flailing as mods, anyway. I’ll readily confess that I react more, umm, well, let’s say… energetically than other mods. But unless you see “Moderator Notes:” in the title of my post, then I am one of the hoi polloi. I am allowed to feel contempt and disdain for you. You are cordially invited to demonstrate anytime my contempt and disdain for you has affected my moderation of your posts. ---
**Author:** ![drmark2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@drmark2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drmark2000)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-become-of-sdmb-especially-gd-s/336304/157 "2005-12-22T04:51:04Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > I love this guy! And I love you too. You know, I mean, in a wholesome and healthy way. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-become-of-sdmb-especially-gd-s/336304/158 "2005-12-22T04:58:30Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Anyone who does not respect **tomndebb** as a poster is simply not paying attention. Just haven’t encountered him that much in that role and then not always in a good way, but my jury is still out. > [@](#): > > I’ll readily confess that I react more, umm, well, let’s say… energetically than other mods. Dude, yer a fuckin’ newbie. Prove yourself a bit more before you take yourself so seriously. You’ve closed threads in an unfortunate manner and have been a toolish mod on several occasions. Get some gravitas. > [@](#): > > But unless you see “Moderator Notes:” in the title of my post, then I am one of the hoi polloi. That’s one theory of moddom, but I think it’s incorrect. As Tom Hanks says in _Saving Private Ryan_, “You gripe up, not down.” Similarly, although a mod can once in awhile, when s/he is _very_ sure of the context and likelihood of humor/meaning being produced, make cool, cutting remark to a fellow poster that is a general judgement (not a slam of an individual point in a debate; that’s different). But getting into the fray and making an ass of yourself as you have in this thread just depletes your cache of modness. “Dissing down” is uncool for a mod, and it’s even more uncool to try to diss down and get pwned. Sorry, you can’t just switch with a flip of a switch. Oh, sure, you can argue that you can still dick around as you have here and at other times make fair, balanced, and impeccable mod decisions; that is, be a _good_ mod when that hat is on. But I think a large part of modding is earning respect and maintaining one’s cool regardless of what hat is on. In other words, if you are a tool all the time as you have been in this thread, people aren’t going to respect you when you put that mod hat on, and you won’t be effective. > [@](#): > > I am allowed to feel contempt and disdain for you. Hah, but you don’t. You really don’t. > [@](#): > > You are cordially invited to demonstrate anytime my contempt and disdain for you has affected my moderation of your posts. All I can say is, “Don’t mod my posts,” because I don’t respect you as a mod, and if you were to take a poll, the majority of the board doesn’t either. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-become-of-sdmb-especially-gd-s/336304/159 "2005-12-22T04:59:39Z")
> [@drmark2000](#): > > And I love you too. > > You know, I mean, in a wholesome and healthy way. Yes, not in a homosexual fashion, though homosexuality is itself just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-become-of-sdmb-especially-gd-s/336304/160 "2005-12-22T05:14:48Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > But getting into the fray and making an ass of yourself as you have in this thread just depletes your cache of modness. Oh, fuck! _runs into bedroom_ Whooh, no, my cache of modness is still there, under the mattress. > [@](#): > > All I can say is, “Don’t mod my posts,” because I don’t respect you as a mod, and if you were to take a poll, the majority of the board doesn’t either. You know where polls belong. Sadly, I’d have to move it to the Pit, as it would be “other discussion regarding administration of the SDMB”. C’est le vie. G’Night, asshole. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-become-of-sdmb-especially-gd-s/336304.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-become-of-sdmb-especially-gd-s/336304.md?page=9)